Irish Road Bowling
Doddridge County Fair
Sunday, August 22, 2022
Irish Road Bowling at the Doddridge County Fair
Registration 1:30 PM and Bowling starts at 2:00PM
Road Bowling – is an Irish sport in which competitors attempt to take the fewest throws to propel a metal ball along a predetermined course of country roads. The sport originated in Ireland and is mainly played in counties Armagh and Cork.
An iron and steel small cannonball, called a “bowl” is hurled down a 1.2-mile country lane, fewest throws to the finish line wins, similar to golf. Throws can roll 250 or even 300 yards.
Excitement builds as two evenly skilled players match each other shot for shot for more than a mile. Often these memorable matches, called “scores,” are decided by only a few feet or inches distance past the finish line, both players with the same number of throws.
The twists and turns of a narrow country lane as well as the tilt of the road surface (the “pitch and camber”) provide a rich playing field for strategy and can spark spirited debate among the thrower, his coach (the “road shower”) and full-throated spectators.
Before football, soccer, and basketball, before baseball and golf, was . . .
The Old Game, Irish Road Bowling.
More Information can be found on the following:
West Virginia Irish Road Bowling
West Virginia Irish Road Bowling Association
For more information about our Irish Road Bowling contact
Road Master Eric Bee (304) 299-2104
Doddridge County Fair is hosted at the beautiful Doddridge County Park.
The Park is located off U.S. Route 50 at Snowbird Road near West Union, WV.
Doddridge County Park, 1252 Snowbird Rd, West Union, WV 26456